1st Grade

First grade is an exciting year. With a year of kindergarten under their belt, teachers are able to take the students to new heights. Students typically start the year reading short sentences and finish the year reading entire books independently. Spelling lessons focus on teaching students to recognize patterns in how we spell words while helping them learn the most common words that don't follow patterns. Their writing blossoms as they learn to write complete paragraphs and short stories. They start the year as fledgling mathematicians who add and subtract single digit problems like 2+3=5, and end the year adding and subtracting double digit numbers. In science the students get to explore topics such as animals, plants, weather, and solids, liquids and gases. In social studies, they are finding out about their local neighborhoods, good citizenship, and how things have changed over time. In addition to using text books and worksheets, teachers incorporate art, music, hands on activities, and relevant stories in their standards based lessons.

Below is a brief list of Key academic skills that students are expected to have mastered by the end of first grade. For a complete list of the California State Standards for Education, follow this link to the California Department of Education's website.